Flourishing Youth Provision: The Potential Role of Positive Psychology and Coaching in Enhancing Youth Services

Abstract

This article discusses how positive psychology and evidence-based coaching can support youth service provision in order to promote cross fertilisation between these different domains of practice. The transition from adolescence to adulthood is difficult for many young people and there is growing recognition that there should be a greater emphasis on the provision of youth services to help young people to achieve physical, emotional and psychological well-being at this key development stage. A literature review was conducted to identify key themes emerging in recent youth work strategies in the United Kingdom and Australia and from the positive psychology and evidence-based coaching research literature. Clear links can be made between the aims and objectives of youth work strategy and positive psychology and evidence-based coaching, and these have potential for use within youth services as a means of enhancing the well-being, resilience and hope of both young people and those who work to support them.

Keywords

• Positive psychology
• evidence-based coaching
• well-being
• resilience
• hope
• youth work
• young people